I really appreciate when a plan works. It was good that we all got a good night's sleep (at a dock) before the next leg. After breakfast, Sunday morning we split up in Monterey - another place i like (has there been one i haven't liked?). Med student Lomo went for a run and then studied, Ty and Cody walked around town, i went to the aquarium (superior!). Back at the boat about noon, we departed for southern CA at 1:00.
We had a beautiful reach down the coast (love the sparkles! on the water). The first night we sailed with the jib alone. The wind lightened up and by noon Monday we had the full main and drifter up. Of course this called up the wind and we enjoyed
pushin' 9 knots until 3:00...when we finally broached. In the process of recovering from that...we tore the drifter. Darn! Should have known better and taken it down an hour earlier. (So it is at the sail loft now, getting patched. We should get it back tomorrow night and head down to Marina del Rey first thing Friday.)
The wind and waves continued to build Monday. At sunset we were on the genoa alone, and soon rolled half of it up. On this leg we stayed a little closer to shore, so we saw more shipping. That night, once in Santa Barabara channel, we had the new experience of navigating around the offshore oil rigs - not hard at all to do, the way they're lit up.
We arrived here at 11:00 Tuesday, well ahead of Lomo's Wednesday flight out. More importantly, we were ahead of the next big blow! As forecast, at about 3:00, tied up safe and sound here "the wind came on to blow!" I was glad we were NOT still out there. Our luck continues!
Dear friend Susan picked us up for dinner and a sleep over at her home in LA - delicious and dear! Grocery shopped, dropped Lomo at the airport - thank you for joining us and being such good crew. You got the "full effect" of offshore sailing with 8 foot swells and 30+ knot gusts most of the night. You'll find cruising (anchoring or mooring for the night) much less tiring.
Onward we go!
jon
1 comment:
Jon, Don't know what it takes to blow out a sail, but god damn it, be careful. I saw on the news to sailors were rescued in that area. I realize they don't probably have your experience and know how, I don't want you finding a slice of humble pie out there! It's really taken a change here and feels like winter, but I guess it happens about this time each year. I am sure you are feeling good about the temp's getting warmer as you go south (or at least not colder than when you left). I might start calling you chistopher Howe, as I have always said to find the journey fun, you must have some explorer blood running through your veins. Perhaps Sir Jon would be a better name. I am sure you are breaking free of all your ties to the Seattle routine and that's a good thing, but I miss you (and Tyler too).
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